Veteran NFL writer and Pat McAfee Show contributor Mark Kaboly looks at who would be the best opponent for John Cena in his Farewell Match now less than three months away.
THE SETUP
The days are numbered for John Cena's Farewell Tour. The Last Real Champ has five scheduled appearances left on his yearlong goodbye tour starting on Oct. 11 at WWE Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia against AJ Styles and concluding at Saturday Night’s Main Event in mid-December. Cena has wrestled 13 times – nine of which were singles matches during his tour. He’s 5-3-1 in those matches and 2-2 in either tag matches, the Royal Rumble, or inside the Elimination Chamber. Five appearances left doesn’t mean five matches, so the options are becoming slim. Cena has already beaten Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41, CM Punk at WWE Elimination Chamber, and Randy Orton at WWE Backlash, so cross those off the list. Who is next… or better yet, who might be last?
Ranking the five best options for John Cena’s final match
1) Gunther: I am not quite sure if Gunther needs a passing-of-the-torch bout against the 17-time World Champion, but it sure would fit the bill of what of a perfect final opponent of "The Greatest of All Time" would look like. Gunther hasn’t been seen or heard from since losing the World Heavyweight Title to CM Punk at SummerSlam, and what better way to advance his heel persona than to make a surprise return to put a sour taste in Cena’s Farwell Tour. Gunther is standing on the precipice of greatness, and since the two have never met inside the ring, this could be the match of the ages – the ultimate good guy vs. bad guy.
2) Dominik Mysterio: If Cena really wants to push somebody to stardom in one of his final matches, Mysterio has to be near the top. The Intercontinental Champion, Mysterio appears to be on a rocket ship to stardom with his personality and his in-ring acumen. That’s the reason why Mysterio could be a part of this. The other reason is what Cena could gain from a victory over Mysterio – becoming a Grand Slam Champion. Over his career, Cena has won the WWE Championship, Tag Team Championship and the United States Championship. Only the Intercontinental Title has eluded Cena over his stories 23-year career.
3) The Rock: Having Cena vs. The Final Boss is a purely a selfish prediction, but who doesn’t want the conflict to come full circle? It’s definitely way down on the list of likely final opponents for Cena, but it sure would bring back memories of yesteryear. Despite having careers that parallel each other, we haven’t seen the two in the ring often. They haven’t met in a decade and put together two memorable matches – one at WrestleMania XXVIII ,with Rock getting the pin, and the following year with Cena getting his redemption. Two legends, one last time. Who wouldn’t want that?
4) Brock Lesnar: Lesnar’s return and thorough beatdown of Cena at Wrestlepalooza made little sense to both Superstars. While it could be just a squash for nothing more than Lesnar elevating his status after a two-year hiatus. Lesnar's nine-minute squash of Cena has to have a deeper meaning, and it could be that it gives Cena an opportunity to get payback against an Ivan Drago-type opponent. Cena would be billed as having zero chance against Lesnar. It might be a longshot, but it would tie up many loose ends if it does occur.
5) Bron Breakker: Breakker is destined for greatness, and nobody will benefit more from facing Cena than him. The issue is that Breakker might be caught up in a Survivor Series rivalry that would severely hinder his opportunity to set up a believable storyline within two weeks. It’s always doable and would make for an interesting match, but it sure feels like a longshot.
Longshots: Kurt Angle, Jacob Fatu, Omos, The Miz and Roman Reigns
